Today’s top stories

POLITICS: President Jacob Zuma says he is not nervous for his State of the Nation Address due to be made on Thursday this week. Speaking at a lunch with the country’s top editors at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria on Sunday, Zuma said he was not worried about the Economic Freedom Fighters’ threat that they would disrupt his speech, the Mail&Guardianreports. “If you remember when they [the EFF] raised the issue, the matter was under discussion in Parliament. We were participating in a process. In fact even that question . . . I would have not allowed the question as there was a committee established. Why do you ask the question? You wait for the committee to conclude and then bring a report, then you have time to ask questions,” said Zuma. The president also reiterated that the Eskom crisis was not the government’s fault. He then lambasted the Public Protector for recommending that he should repay some of the money that was used to upgrade his Nkandla homestead in KwaZulu-Natal. A frustrated Zuma said he didn’t even know why the Public Protector made the recommendation.

BUSINESS: The South African Revenue Service wants its suspended Deputy Commissioner Ivan Pillay to pay the company R110 million. The money was used to establish a rogue-investigating unit. According to City Press Pillay received a letter of demand last month, during his battle with the revenue company at the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration. Pillay was suspended on 5 December, but the suspension was overturned by the labour courts on 18 December. He was again suspended on 21 January by the tax revenue company.

NEWS: A shocking new twist has emerged in the case of the three Stellenbosch family members who were murdered last month, The Sunday Times reports. Apparently Henri, the 20-year-old surviving van Breda son only called emergency services four hours after his parents Martin and Teresa van Breda and his brother Rudi were killed, and his 16-year-old sister Marli attacked. The newspaper also reports that Henri’s injuries were self-inflicted. The youngest van Breda son was a patient at a mental health and addiction facility in Australia last year. After two weeks in intensive care, Marli van Breda is apparently now conscious and communicating. No arrests have been made in the case yet.

CRIME: Police made a gruesome discovery on Saturday when they found the frozen bodies of four infants inside the home of a respected community member of New Brighton in the Eastern Cape. The Sowetan reports that one of the bodies was found in a freezer in the family’s dining room, while the other three were found inside a black garbage bag in another fridge. Lieutenant Colonel Mzukisi Fatyela said it is believed that the babies were only about a month old when they were killed, but that autopsies will be performed to obtain more details, such as cause of death.

SPORT: After a 23-year Africa Cup of Nations Cup drought, the Ivory Coast was finally victorious last night. The team, which won on a penalty shootout, took the cup after beating Ghana 9-8, Sports 24 reports. Ivory Coast Captain Yaya Toure was more than thrilled with the win. “When you win with your club it’s quite amazing, but with your country it’s unbelievable,” Toure told reporters. “I’ve been waiting, I don’t know how many years to lift this trophy – as captain it is something special. The luck came to our side today. I’m delighted and very happy.”